After who knows how long, Old Zhao finally came back to his senses and asked somewhat uncertainly, “Employer, is this really true?”
Lu Qingling nodded and said, “It matches: appearance, demeanor, even knowing my younger brother, and his injuries, it all matches.”
Old Zhao took a deep breath, slapped his thigh, and frowned. Truly a pity!
He even said he wanted to marry his own daughter? One had to know, his daughter had been saying every day that if she could marry that young Lord Warden Commander in this lifetime, that would be wonderful.
Although it was certainly just a joke, it would still have been quite respectable to say out loud.
“However, he might be in grave danger at this moment.”
Lu Qingling recalled that when she left the inn earlier, there were some vendors not far from that street who seemed unnatural. She had traveled widely for many years and could naturally tell at a glance that those vendors were unusual; she simply had not paid attention at the time because they were about to leave Dragon Horn Commandery. Now, having deduced Chen Chao’s identity, she naturally and logically understood their intent.
That Lord Warden Commander was facing an assassination attempt.
No wonder he said he would stay behind for a while instead of returning to Divine Capital with the caravan, it turned out he was afraid of implicating them.
Lu Qingling told Old Zhao her deduction. After thinking for a moment, the burly man with a full beard suddenly grinned and said, “Employer, then Old Zhao will request leave from you?”
Lu Qingling was extremely perceptive; the moment Old Zhao spoke, she already understood his intention. She said solemnly, “Old Zhao, the Lord Warden Commander has shown you kindness, but since those who dare to assassinate him are not people we can deal with, even if you go now, it will be of no use.”
Old Zhao smiled and said, “What Employer says, this Zhao understands very clearly.”
“This Zhao knows that going will not help. If those people are determined to kill the Lord Warden Commander, then one more Zhao will not change anything. This Zhao also knows that even if I do not go, the Lord Warden Commander would not blame this Zhao. After all, he has already said so before. But knowing and not knowing are different. Now that this Zhao knows about this matter, it is still not too late. If I do not go, I cannot put my heart at ease.”
“As for why, the reason is simple. It is not because the Lord Warden Commander taught this Zhao some fist techniques, but because over these past years, the Lord Warden Commander has been carrying Great Liang on his own. We, the people of Great Liang, must remember his kindness! Without the Lord Warden Commander, the people would not be living like this. Their backs would not stand so straight!”
After saying that, Old Zhao said nothing more. He turned his horse around and directly spurred it into a mad gallop back toward Dragon Horn Commandery!
He also had a wife and a daughter, and even an elderly mother. If he died in Dragon Horn Commandery, it would be nothing but cruelty for those relatives. For other matters, he could avoid them if he could.
But this matter could not be avoided!
He would rather die in Dragon Horn Commandery than let that young man die there!
......
......
Watching Old Zhao gallop away, the group of martial artists were somewhat shocked, all turning in confusion to look at the employer, Lu Qingling.
Lu Qingling took a deep breath and looked at the crowd calmly. “Old Zhao has gone to save someone, the young man who had been traveling with us for a long time.”
“Of course, he also has another identity: he is our imperial court’s Lord Warden Commander Chen Chao. He is currently facing an assassination. The people coming to kill him are, of course, very strong. Whether it is one Old Zhao or ten Old Zhaos, there is actually no difference, but he still went.”
Lu Qingling smiled slightly. “Old Zhao is truly a bit foolish.”
The martial artists did not speak.
Lu Qingling smiled and said, “But in their lifetimes, people always do a few foolish things. As for whether they regret it afterward, it depends on whether it is worth it. I, Lu Qingling, also consider myself a smart person. Over the years I have not done many foolish things, but today, I want to do it once.” “Everyone, if you go, there is an 80% chance of death. If you do not go, there is a 100% chance of survival. How to choose, you decide yourselves!”
After saying this, Lu Qingling kicked her horse forward and galloped away.
The group of martial artists exchanged glances. No one spoke, but all of them tacitly turned their horses around and charged back toward Dragon Horn Commandery!
......
......
On the long street, a battle between martial artists came to an end.
Chen Chao’s butcher’s knife was broken in half, and the remaining blade was embedded in the lower abdomen of the opposing young martial artist. His other hand was less than an inch away from the opponent’s head, but it did not fall.
And the horizontal saber in Huang Kong's hand was already broken.
He raised his head and looked at the martial artist in front of him, somewhat puzzled.
Clearly, he was already heavily injured at this moment, and even his remaining qi was low. No matter how one looked at it, he had the advantage. So why had he still lost?
Chen Chao withdrew the hand he had raised in midair and said, “Leave.”
Huang Kong asked in surprise, “Why do you not kill me?”
Chen Chao smiled slightly. “We have no grudge between us. Since you wanted to fight this official in the end, this official does not wish to kill you.”
In truth, whether to kill Huang Kong had always been a fifty-fifty choice, it depended entirely on Chen Chao’s decision. But perhaps because he had already killed enough people today, he no longer wished to kill him.
After withdrawing his hand, blood began to flow from the corner of Chen Chao’s mouth. He stepped back a few paces before finally managing not to collapse outright, instead leaning against the wall.
The two daoists exchanged a glance and gave a slight nod.
The group from before had been used to exhaust Chen Chao; so was Huang Kong.
Right now, Chen Chao no longer gave the impression of being terrifying. In the eyes of these two daoists, he was nothing more than fish on a chopping board, ready to be killed at any moment.
Huang Kong pulled out the blade embedded in his lower abdomen and looked at Chen Chao, shouting in pain, “Chen Chao, why don’t you kill me!”
Chen Chao did not respond.
But at that moment, the window beside them creaked open.
A man dressed like a scholar poked his head out from inside, holding a rolling pin. He then awkwardly climbed out through the window and landed on the street.
If Huang Kong could already be considered gaunt, then this young man could even be described as weak to the point of fragility, utterly incapable of defending himself.
He was simply too thin, as if a gust of wind could knock him over.
At this moment, seeing the street full of corpses, his face turned deathly pale and his whole body trembled. Even so, he still gripped the rolling pin and stood in front of Chen Chao.
Looking at the two daoists.
Chen Chao asked, “What are you doing?”
The scholar swallowed hard and said, somewhat lacking confidence, “Protecting you.”
Chen Chao furrowed his brows.
Then, from all around, came the continuous sound of doors opening and windows creaking. A group of commoners ran out, each holding various objects in their hands.
Some held kitchen knives, some held wooden sticks, others carried benches from their homes...
These common people's faces were filled with fear and unease; many of them were trembling. Even so, they still came out here.
They stood between Chen Chao and the two daoists.
They once again filled the entire street.
Then, from within the crowd, someone shouted, as if to steel their own courage, or to explain why they had come.
“Protect the Lord Warden Commander!”
“Protect the Lord Warden Commander!”
“Protect the Lord Warden Commander!”
On the street, the voices rose and fell without end.
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